Walsall, West Midlands

Although the formal congregation in Walsall was a Second World War creation a
number of individual Jews lived there long before that period. Probably
the first Jews to live there were David Karney and his family. The father was
born in London in about 1819 as was his wife Fanny in 1825. They had
children born in Walsall from 1847. Other families which can be identified in
the Censuses until 1901 were headed by Simeon Marks, Abraham Rosenthall, Harry
Davis, Henry Wearing, Isaac Albert, Lazarus Posnansky, Abraham Wineberg, and
Marks Cohrs.

The following references to the Walsall
community appeared in the pages of the Jewish Chronicle:

Jewish Chronicle, 4 April 1873, page 1“On 26 ult at the residence of the
bride’s parents by Rev L. Chapman assisted by Rev G.J.
Emanuel, marriage of J.H. Wearing of Walsall to Kate, eldest daughter of D.
Karney of the same place.”

Jewish Chronicle, 22 July 1921, page 2“Death on 15 July of Leah Posnansky,
widow of late Lazarus) aged 76.”

Jewish Chronicle, 23 June 1922, page 32“Lewis Pinsky, dentist, sentenced to
two months’ hard labour at Old Street Police Court for
stealing jewellery and £9 belonging to Alice Goldstein, a cigarette-maker, of
Bethnal Green. A warrant had been issued against him in 1920 for neglecting to
maintain his wife (now in Walsall workhouse) and his 4 children. Pinsky
apparently owed from £400 to £1,000.”

Jewish Chronicle, 31 July 1942, page 11“Inaugural meeting of the Walsall
congregation held last week. H.Bergman, President; E. Weiner Vice-President; S.
Kapp, Treasurer; Isaac Bergman, Secretary.
”As soon as funds allow premises will be take for a synagogue, communal
hall, and social club. Jewish residents are asked to get in touch with the
secretary at 190 Litchfield Road.”

Jewish Chronicle, 4 December 1942, page 10“Walsall Centre Opened. Last week, at
Oriel Chambers, 13a Bridge Street. Opened by the Mayor. The Mayor said that the
local authorities would do all in their power to help the Jewish community.”

Jewish Chronicle, 30 March 1951, page 6“Election of Leon Jessel as chairman
of the Walsall Junior Chamber of Commerce. Born Offenbach, then in Buchenwald
Concentration Camp, then to England in 1939. Interned then came to Walsall where
from 1941-5 he was Hon. Sec. Of the Walsall Hebrew Congregation
‘which is now defunct’.”

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